Chapter Eight: The Part That Cannot Be Let Go

“What's wrong, streamer? Are you feeling troubled?” Zhou Xia noticed Zhang Xiaorui sighing silently again, and her heart skipped a beat. She wondered if her own requests had been too much, making things difficult for the streamer.

“Oh, not really. The one who’s been following you—or rather, clinging to you—is just a little black dog,” Zhang Xiaorui replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xia’s expression immediately changed. “Streamer, what did you say? You mean the one who’s been bothering me all along is a little black dog? Are you sure?”

Zhang Xiaorui glanced at her. “Yes, it’s a little black dog. The reason you felt a tongue licking your face while you slept was because of that protective little black dog.”

At that moment, tears streamed down Zhou Xia’s face. “Streamer, I... I... I never expected it to be Xiao Hei, my Xiao Hei.”

Zhou Xia wept bitterly, her body trembling slightly.

The viewers in the chatroom were utterly confused, not understanding what was going on. Everything felt so hazy and disjointed.

“Wait, miss, please don’t cry just yet! What’s going on? What happened to Xiao Hei?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It must be a dog. Didn’t the streamer just say that? Why even ask?”

“I feel like there’s a story behind this, but I have no idea what it is.”

“The person above, you’re just as lost as the rest of us. You’re getting tangled up in it too.”

“It must be your dog, right? Don’t worry, it won’t harm you.”

“My Xiao Hei, my dear Xiao Hei... I never thought you were by my side all along. Xiao Hei, it’s my fault for not taking good care of you and letting you go so early. It’s all my fault, isn’t it? You must be blaming me for not protecting you, for letting you leave this world so soon. It’s all my fault—I failed you, I’m so sorry!”

Zhou Xia’s emotions surged, tears pouring like a flood. The scene was deeply moving, stirring heartfelt sorrow.

“What exactly is going on? Miss, please stop crying. We’re all totally lost here.”

“I’m new here. What kind of livestream is this? Why is the lady crying?”

“Don’t you check the title before you enter? This is a metaphysical fortune-telling livestream.”

Hearing her owner’s words, Xiao Hei seemed to sense something, inching its spirit closer to Zhou Xia.

Zhou Xia seemed to recall something. She lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes gazing at Zhang Xiaorui.

“Streamer—no, Master Zhang—I beg you, please, let me see Xiao Hei once more. I’ll send you gifts, I’ll reward you. Just grant me this wish. I have no other desire but to see my Xiao Hei again.

Xiao Hei was a stray dog. One day after work, I found him limping beside some trash. His leg was hurt, and he walked with a limp. I felt so sorry for him that I took him in. Later, I brought him to a vet to treat his leg. Thanks to my care, Xiao Hei’s leg gradually healed. He was so adorable and cute then.

Slowly, Xiao Hei grew from a tiny pet into quite a large dog. The only thing that never changed was how clingy he was—especially to me. Countless lonely nights, Xiao Hei was there with me, through sadness and hardship, never leaving my side. Xiao Hei became everything to me, an inseparable part of my life.

One day, I took Xiao Hei out to play, but I wasn’t paying attention, and he was hit by a car and died. At that moment, it felt as if the whole sky had collapsed. Xiao Hei left me just like that.”

Zhou Xia closed her eyes in pain, as if lost in sorrow and remembrance. The viewers knew she was deeply missing her Xiao Hei.

“I don’t know why, but after hearing her story, I can’t help but remember my own deceased kitten. Sob...”

“I’m so moved I’m about to cry. Please don’t hit me with feelings like this.”

“Come on, guys, this is obviously scripted. How can you fall for it?”

“The person above is right; it feels like a performance. The acting is pretty convincing though. I wonder how much they pay for an actor a day? The tears are so real—it’s tough, huh? Now I truly understand that money isn’t easy to earn. Miss, I’m rooting for you. Keep it up! I’m just passing by, watching the show.”

“Why are there so many keyboard warriors everywhere? If you don’t want to watch, just leave. No one asked you to be here. Seriously, so annoying.”

Zhou Xia’s entire focus was on Zhang Xiaorui; she paid no attention to the chatroom comments. She just wanted to beg the streamer to let her see Xiao Hei.

Hearing her heartfelt plea, Xiao Hei’s spirit moved closer to Zhou Xia.

In those clear, watery eyes was only the image of his owner. His expression seemed to say, “Master, I’ve always been by your side. Whether alive or dead, I’ve never left you.”

Zhang Xiaorui was touched by the scene before her.

“I can let you see him.”

Zhou Xia, still sobbing, wiped her tears. “Master Zhang, really? Is it true? Thank you, truly thank you.”

The next moment, the chatroom filled with gift effects, dazzling the viewers’ eyes.

“Wow, this lady is something else—a woman of action, sending gifts just like that. So bold!”

“Of course, if it’s acting, you have to go all out! Otherwise, how do you get paid?”

“Isn’t the price a bit too high for this?”

Zhang Xiaorui glanced at the chat messages but said nothing. The next second, she quickly formed hand seals.

While doing so, she muttered an incantation: “When heaven and earth first opened, all things became clear. Life and death revolve, returning to the source. Yin and yang divided, only by the heart. Supreme Elder Lord, urgent as the law commands. Appear now...”

When she finished the spell, everyone in the chatroom, including Zhou Xia, was stunned.

They noticed Zhang Xiaorui’s whole body seemed to radiate golden light—though maybe their eyes were deceiving them.

But when they looked at Zhou Xia’s side, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief.

A translucent shadow of a dog appeared beside her.

And that dog was none other than Xiao Hei, the one Zhou Xia longed for day and night.

Overwhelmed with joy, Zhou Xia opened her arms, reaching to embrace Xiao Hei.

“Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei... is it really you? I can finally see you. Xiao Hei, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. If I had taken better care of you, you wouldn’t have died.”

Her hands passed through Xiao Hei’s form, embracing only emptiness.

“Miss, don’t be too sad. It’s just his spirit now.”